Epileptogenesis: A model for the involvement of slow membrane events and extracellular potassium

A computer model was developed, based in part on voltage-clamp data from Aplysia bursting pacemaker cells. This model was used to explore the interaction of slow subthreshold membrane properties with the synaptic events and the accumulation of extracellular potassium which are thought to occur in ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of theoretical biology Vol. 75; no. 3; pp. 271 - 288
Main Authors Whisler, John W., Johnston, Daniel
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Elsevier Ltd 07.12.1978
Subjects
Action Potentials
Animals
Aplysia - physiology
Electroencephalography
Epilepsy - etiology
Epilepsy - physiopathology
Extracellular Space - physiology
Humans
Kinetics
Membrane Potentials
Models, Biological
Potassium - physiology
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Summary:A computer model was developed, based in part on voltage-clamp data from Aplysia bursting pacemaker cells. This model was used to explore the interaction of slow subthreshold membrane properties with the synaptic events and the accumulation of extracellular potassium which are thought to occur in experimental epileptic foci. Results of the model suggest a new role for potassium ions and subthreshold membrane events in epileptogenesis—namely, that an increase in extracellular potassium may transform a group of stable cells into unstable, oscillatory cells, independent of synaptic activity. The model also suggests that a population of cells may be more susceptible than single cells to this transformation.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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content type line 23
ISSN:0022-5193
1095-8541
DOI:10.1016/0022-5193(78)90334-X